When I first came to the United States, I felt lost. I had never seen a city so large and everything was so foreign. I did not speak the language perfectly, and many of traits and habits that defined New York and its people seemed peculiar to me. It was a strange new place and one thing kept me from being completely lost. That was basketball. It was a sport that was rarely talked about back where I’m from. However, I saw the beauty of the game very quick. Basketball kept me from feeling like a complete outsider. I poured my heart and soul into playing ball because I had fun, and through basketball I got accumulated to American culture much faster than I would have. I leaned the lingo, the icons, and the fashion of the time through the sport. I also made some friends at my local park that I am still very much in contact with, which has been a pleasant surprise. I got into my first real fight because of basketball and got my nose broken. When I was 10, I also stole a basketball, the first thing I ever stole. I got my first medal in anything at a basketball tournament. In many ways, basketball has been much more than just a sport to me. Over the years, basketball has been an integral part of my life has helped me through many ups and downs. When I hit my growth spurt in the 7^th grade, I started becoming a potent player on my middle school team. That feeling of respect and adoration that I got from my fellow classmates is something that I would never have imagined coming in as an outsider from another country. Many people say it is just a game, but I would say that basketball is a lifestyle, because it helped me develop into the person I am today.